11.2.07

dress to impress

SHOW OF THE WEEKWell as the annual Melbourne L'Oreal Fashion Festival is fast approaching all our thoughts turn again to our wardrobes. Thankfully this year we have someone near and dear in the drivers seat of the cultural program (hi Kate!) and expect to be zhoozshing ourselves nightly at opening events, champagne glass in hand and kitten heels clicking. However while we wait for the fun to start in the city there is something else we fauz fashionistas at hml can't wait to see...

Walala Wasala: the fabric of African politics, features textiles from Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Tunisia, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Zanzibar. According to the info available "Reflecting the vibrancy and diversity of the continent, this distinctively African method of communication provides an on going record of what is considered significant in the context of a particular time and place offering valuable insights into some of the changes occurring in modern Africa. Most of the designs represented are commemorative with subjects including African Heads of State, sporting heroes, international celebrities, religious figures and essential commodities like clean water, electricity and houses, which things still denied to most Africans." Sounds unmissable.

We love that this exhibition manages to bring our love of fashion and politics together without the merest mention of Amanda Vanstone's shirts (as bad as her politics), Natasha Stott-Despoja's 'youthquakin' Doc Martins or Julia Gillards mighty morphing power haircuts... Personally we here at hml think the 'i'm with stupid' t-shirt is the perfect garment de jour for the current australian political climate.

We'll be posting some real photos from the exhibition after our visit, until then take in the uber cool collegiate styling of Mr Nelson Mandela.